Edward tthomas chebnttshek



E. T. CHERNUSHEK. vPHONOGRAPH NEEDLE- APPLICATION FILED JAN-2'8. 1919.

Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

2 R J .6. z k m m 1m :1 0 m a h m I 2 M A a M w w 4 J Tl fill/I47!!! .w.2 B M M 7 WIT 8858 STATES OFFICE.

EDWARD THOMAS GHEBNUSHEK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

rnonoomn-mnnm 1,31 ,533 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 28,1919. Serial No. 273,579.

To all whom it may concern Be it lmown that I, EDWARD THOMAS CHERNUSHEK,a subject of the Emperor of Austria, and a resident of the city of NewYork, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented a new and Improved Phonograph-Needle, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description. a

This invention relates to sound reproducing devices and has particularreference to needles for phonographs or like instruments. Among theobjects of the invention is to provide a needle and a peculiar holderfor the same providing for the use of a single needle for the playing ofa vast number of records without renewal.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a phonograph needle ofsuch a character as to be well adapted for sound reproduction purposeson a large number of records without renewal or adjustment, but

which may be adjusted from time to time so that a single needle willlast for the satisfactory playing of thousands of records,

diagram the approximate angle at which the axis of a needle is inclinedto the plane of the record.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, theneedle chuck being in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view through the chuck.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the chuck shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the same; and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the chuck jaws.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings I showa reproducer 10having a needle holder shown generally at 11 but inthe lower flat faceofthe head 16, and a collar 18 having a conical flange 19 embracing thepoint portions of the jaws and having an internally threaded baseadjustable upon the threaded head 16. I preferably provide two of theconical jaws 17 each comprising a half cone and when fitted togetherthey constitute essentially a single cone having a minute bore 20 formedthrough the apex thereof. Above this apex the bore 20 is counterbored at21 and beveled or further counterbored at the base portion at 22. Theshank 14 is provided with a central bore 23 of a caliber approximatelyequal to the diameter of the last mentioned counterbore 22 and with.which it registers when the parts are assembled. The tightening of thecollar upon the head 16 causes the flanged portion 19 of the collar tohold the cone members 17 firmly against the head and against each other.

The needle 24 consists of a simple straight piece of very fine highgrade steel Wire, or its equivalent, the diameter of which through thelength of the needle is uniform and small enough to serve as areproducing needle point at any cross section thereof.

.The needle is firmly gripped in the minute bore 20 between the jaws 17near its lower end or at least near enough to the lower end or activepoint to obviate any material spring of the needle with respect to itslength. The main portion of the needle extends upward along the bores 21and 23 and the upper end of the needle is fitted with a head 24 of anysuitable relatively soft material such as lead. This head acts as aplunger or uide and has a sliding fit in the-bore 23. Fitted as statedthe head will prevent any possible vibration of the needle in the chuckabove the bore 20.

In a device constructed and adjusted as indicated, the portion of theneedle which projects below the jaws 17 will serve to. play aconsiderable number of records without change or adjustment. W'hen,however, the extended portion of the needle wears off or nearly off afresh portion of the needle may be projected by removal of the chuckfrom the holder 12 and projecting the instrument such as a pin or thelike clown into the bore 23 against the head 24 forcing the samedownward as far as desired. The jaws 17 may be loosened for this purposeif the frictional grip thereof on the point portion of the needle is toogreat. After such adjust ment the needle obviously willbe suitable forplaying another large number of records. These needles and chucks can bemade at relatively low cost and serve to last for a long season ofoperation with satisfactory results.

In Fig. 5 I show a chuck substantially the same as above described, buthaving a shank 14: of a different form from that shown in Fig. 4: so asto adapt the same immediately to a holder having a triangular bore.

1 claim:

1. A phonograph needle comprising an elongated piece of fine steel wireof uniform cross section throughout its length, and an enlargement atits upper end and adapted to serve as a guiding means and centeringmeans for the needle when in operative posiing an enlargement at itsupper end and a chuck for holding the same and to provide longitudinalreadjustment after portions of the needle have worn off, said chuckcomprising a shank having a bore in which the enlargement at the upperend of the needle is slidably fitted, gripping members embracing thepoint portion of the needle close to its active end, and means to lockthe gripping members to the shank member.

4. A phonograph needle comprising a rectilinear piece of hard metal ofuniform cross section throughout its length and continuously operativeas a record engaging medium, and a head of relatively soft materialinounted on the upper end of said needle, as and for the purposesspecified.

V5. The combination with a phonograph needle, of minute diameter and ofuniform cross section throughout its 'length of a holder thereforcomprising a plurality of.

jaws, and means to hold said jaws in close gripping contact, said jawsbeing provided with a minute axial bore through which the active end ofthe needle projects and within which it is held, said bore beingcounterbored above the point portion and the upper end of thecounter-bore being beveled, said needle having a cylindrical enlargementat its upper end said holder comprising a shank having a bore in whichthe enlargement at the upper end of the needle is snugly fitted forsliding movement, said shank being adapted for engagement within areproducer holder.

EDWARD THOMAS CHERNUSHEK.

